Parachute carrying and disengaging means carried by an aeroplane and attached thereto.



v A. JANNUS & T. W. BENOIST. PARAOHUTB CARRYING AND DISENGAGING MEANS CARRIED BY AN AEROPLANE AND ATTAGHED THERETO.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1912.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

' WZINESSES:

ANTONY JANNUS AND TEOMAS W. BENOIS'I, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

PARACHUTE CARRYING AND DISENGAGING MEANS CARRIED BY AN AEROPIJANE AND ATTACHED THERETO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

Application filed. March 9, 1912. Serial No. 682,795!

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, AN'ropY JANNUs and THOMAS W. BENOIST, citizens of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Parachute Carrying and Disengaging Means Carried by an Aeroplane and Attached Thereto, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for attaching parachutesor simi lar devices to flying machines or balloons and disengaging the same therefrom, and has for its prime object the provision of a simple, compact, efiicient and reliable means whereby the aviator or his passengers or other cargo may be uickly discharged from the machine during ight and safely landed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the following portions of this specification and shall be more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an aeroplane equipped with. our invention, the aeroplane being in dotted outline; Fig. 2 a detail view along line 22 of Fig. 1, comprising a'vertical section of our invention and depicting, in dotted perspective, a parachute while in flight; Fig. 3 a plan view of the mouth of the parachute container forming an element of our invention, illustrating the devices employed to retain the parachute within said container; Fig. 4 a sectional perspective of a modified form of parachute-container; Figs. 5 and Gperspectives depicting certain modifications of our invention, hereinafter described; and Fig. 7 a detail view, partly in section, serving to more clearly illustrate the devices connecting the parachute container with an aeroplane.

Referring to the drawing and to the letters of reference found thereupon, A denotes an aeroplane, B an axle connecting the wheels of its running gear, and G the container in which a parachute P is disposed in foldedcondition. As shown in Fig. 2, the top of the folded parachute is secured to the dome of the said container at point M by a cord, elastic, or other readily breakable members R.

member N, while across the'mouth of the container are arranged elastic bands or other easily breakable members R above which is disposed a hoop G serving to spread the mouth of the parachute in a manner wellknown. The parachute proper may comprise cords H connecting a trapeze, ring or bar T to the usual umbrella-like cover illustrated and said bar may be attached to axle B by a hook K as shown at I in Fig. 1. From the head of the form of container which we prefer a rod K is prolonged, the same carrying a vertically movable bar I) supported by helical spring 0. Hingedly connected with rod K at point C is an arm J which is normally projected through an aperture in bar D and it will be noted that container C is pivotally suspended from the machine through the engagement of arm J with the looped portion of a member X attached to axle B. To the under surface of said bar a cord Z is affixed, the same being carried under a sheave E and thence brought upward and detachably secured adjacent the seat of the aviator.

Fig. 4 illustrates the use of a modified form of container in which breakable member N is dispensed with and the folded parachute retained simply by aid of breakable Fig. 5 depicts a further modification of our invention in that a container is eliminoted and the folded parachute simply sus pended from the under framework of the machine'by readily breakable members F.

Fi 6 differs from Fig. 5 in showing the use of a screen or wind-shield S braced to' the machine by rod Y, said screen simulating one of the functions of container C in that it prevents the parachute from being tossed about by the wind and thus protects members F from strain.

In operation, Where it is desired to land a passenger from the machine during flight, such passenger simply releases bar T from hook K and jumps from the framework, whereupon his weight will be directly exerted upon and instantly break members R, the parachute will be drawn" out and distended by the wind and, finally, member N severed. It will be clear that mail or merchandisemay be landed from the machine in the manner'just described, in lieu of a passenger.

Obviously, circumstances may arise where it is desirable or important to detach both the parachute and its container from the aeroplane. To attain such result the aviator simply pulls upon cord Z, whereupon bar D 15 depressed, arm J thus released from en-,

gagement therewith and'thrown upward to the position shown at J and the entire apparatus at once separates from the machine.

As hereinbefore stated, container C is pivotally attached to the framework of the machine and, hence, may be drawn up (as indicated in dotted outline at C Fig. 2) and carried at an angle or in a substantially horizontal position so that the machine can alight and travel upon the ground withouthindrance.

Though the preferred form of our invention and certain modifications have been herein described, yet we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves thereto and normally supporting said arachute within said receptacle, said mem ers adapted to break in response to the imposition of weight upon said parachute. Y

3; A flying machine, a receptacle detachably secured thereto, a parachute, members normally supporting sald parachute within said receptacle, and means for releasing said receptacle from said machine,,s aid members adapted to break in response to the imposition of weight upon said parachute.

4. A flylng machine, a receptacle attached thereto, a parachute, and members normally supporting the upper portion of said parachute within said receptacle, the lower portion of said parachute being disposed without said receptaclefsaid members adapted to break in response to the imposition of weight upon'said parachute.

5. A flying machine, a'receptacle pivotally attached thereto, a parachute, members'normally supporting said parachute within said receptacle, and means for releasing said receptacle from said machine, said members adapted to break in response to the imposition of weight upon said parachute.

6. A flying machine, a receptacle pivotally to the imposition of weight upon said parachute.

8. A flying machine, a receptacle pivotally attached tllereto, a parachute, members normally supporting the upper portion of said parachute within said receptacle, the lower portion of said parachute being disposed without said receptacle, and means for releasing said receptacle from said machine,

said members adapted to .break in response to the imposition of weight upon said parachute.

9. A parachute carrier comprising a receptacle, a rod prolonged therefrom, an arm hingedly connected with said rod, a bar normally engaging said rod and arm, and means for disengaging said bar and arm.

10. A parachute carrier comprising a receptacle, a rod prolonged therefrom, an arm hingedly connected with said 'rod, a bar normally engaging'said rod and arm, means for supporting said bar, and means for disengaging sald bar and arm.

.11. A parachute carrier comprising a receptacle, a curved rod prolonged therefrom, a curved arm hingedly connected with said rod, 2. bar normally engaging said rod and arm, and means for disengaging said bar.

and arm.

12. A parachute carrier comprising a receptacle, a curved rod prolonged therefrom, a curved arm hingedly connected with said rod, a bar normally engaging said rod and arm, means for supporting said bar, and means for disengaging said bar and arm.

. ANTONY J ANNUS. TOM W. BENOIST.

Witnesses:

FRANK W. BELL, A. CAssInY. 

